entertainment
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
December 11-17, 2013
Page D-3
Kenny Burrell
Jazz City
From page D-1
By way of this engagement Carter met a lot of people who would be key to the advancement of his career. GERI ALLEN, pianist, received her early music education at Cass Technical High School and the Jazz Development Workshop where her mentor was Marcus Belgrave. She went on earn a jazz studies bachelor’s degree at Howard University, in Washington, D.C. Allen also earned a master’s degree in ethnomusicology from the University of Pittsburgh. She recorded her first album, “The Printmakers,” in 1984 and 18 more since then. DONALD BYRD, the celebrated trumpeter whose birth name is Donaldson Toussaint L’Ouverture Byrd II, also attended Cass Tech. While still in high school he had the opportunity to perform with the legendary bandleader/ vibist Lionel Hampton. Byrd earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Wayne State University and while pursuing a master’s degree at Manhattan School of Music, joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Although he had a great deal of success as a recording artist in his own right, his 1973 album “Black Byrd” took him to a new level and much broadened his audience. He was recording for Blue Note at the time and “Black Byrd” quickly became the label’s biggest seller up to that point. BETTY CARTER (real name: Lillie Mae Jones) was the queen of jazz vocalizing. Her scatting and improvisational technique were astonishing and set her apart from all others. Among those who recognized Carter’s unique skills early on was trumpet legend Dizzy Gillespie. But the first band she joined was that of another jazz legend, Lionel Hampton. The next big break came when Betty Carter jazz icon Miles Davis suggested that Ray Charles take her under his wing. He did. She toured and recorded with him. Eventually she went out on her own. Betty Carter always refused to compromise her art for the sake of possible commercial success. KENNY BURRELL, guitarist, made his recording debut in 1951, playing as part of Dizzy Gillespie’s sextet. He was attending Wayne State University at the time. After graduating in 1955, he toured with Oscar Peterson. Although, he was and continues to be very successful as a solo attraction, Burrell is best known as the consummate sideman, having worked with everyone
Ron Carter from Eddie Harris, Coleman Hawkins and Hubert Laws to Stanley Turrentine, Jack McDuff and Herbie Mann. RON CARTER, bassist, has been recognized as one of the most recorded bassists in the history of jazz. Amazingly, he has been in the studio for the recording of 2,500 albums. Yet another Cass Tech grad, Carter later attended Eastman School of Music, in Rochester, New York. There, he played in the Philharmonic Orchestra. Chico Hamilton and Jaki Byard were the first to hire him as a professional jazz musician. YUSEF LATEEF (born William Emanuel Huddleston), multi-instrumentalist, launched his professional career upon graduation from high school. Though he was very young, Dizzy Gillespie invited him to tour with his orchestra in 1949. He accepted but returned to Detroit the following year to begin composition and flute studies at Wayne State University. (He played saxophone while with Gillespie.) One thing that made Lateef different from his peers was the fact that he made Eastern instruments, such as Chinese wooden flutes and bells, a part of the music he created. ALICE COLTRANE, who played piano, harp and organ, was married to jazz icon John Coltrane but made inroads and achieved much recognition in her own right.
MILT JACKSON, vibraphonist, is best known for his contributions to the Modern Jazz Quartet. Like so many others, he was discovered by Dizzy Gillespie who utilized his skills in his sextet and in larger ensembles. Formed around 1950, the Modern Jazz Quartet were mainstays on the jazz scene, disbanding in 1974, at which time Jackson went out on his own. However, the quarter re-formed in 1981 and played together until 1993. — Jayson Lewis contributed to this story.
There will be no rap on it and because he is now 40, Williams says the album, to be titled “In My Mind,” will be what he described as “focused.”
Peter Benjaminson, who wrote the fascinating book “Mary Wells: The Tumultuous Life of Motown’s First Superstar,” reports that interest is being shown, in the form of backers, for making a movie on the late Detroit songstress. In junior high school and high school I was possibly the biggest Mary Wells fan in the world. I bought all of her records (even after Motown), read everything I could find on her, wrote fan letters, etc. I finally got to meet her in 1968 backstage at Cobo Hall where she was on a show with several other acts. She was very nice to me and even told me that I could leave my coat in her dressing room. (She volunteered; I
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After her husband’s passing, Coltrane played with her own groups that later included their sons, Ravi, John Jr. and Oranyan. As time went on, she moved increasingly in the direction of meditative music, heavily influenced by her interest in the spirituality, music and culture of India.
Reflections Prince, as you may have heard, will be headlining the 20th annual Essence Festival, taking place July 3-6 at the Superdome in New Orleans.
DIGITAL DAILY
Mary Wells didn’t ask). Jennifer Hudson, season 3 “American Idol” finalist, says she was approached about being a judge this season but decided against it. A reviewer for a national magazine said R. Kelly’s “Black Panties” album “veers between horny and corny.” But as much as I am annoyed by his frequent excesses, I must admit that R. Kelly is a funny guest on talk shows. BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW...that even though he was one of finest jazz/ pop singers in the history of mankind, Nat “King” Cole lacked rhythm, which is why he was never seen dancing. MEMORIES: “If You Let Me” (Eddie Kendricks), “Love to Love You
From page D-1 Baby” (Donna Summer), “Can’t Get Over You” (Maze featuring Frankie Beverly), “I Wanna Get Next to You” (Rose Royce), “Don’t Look Any Further” (Dennis Edwards featuring Siedah Garrett), “Running Back to You” (Vanessa Williams), “Good Times” (Chic), “Two Occasions” (the Deele), “Function at the Junction” (Shorty Long), “That’s the Way I Feel About Cha” (Bobby Womack). BLESSINGS to Allen C. Rawls, Doug Ware, Freddy Anderson, Stephanie Ross, James Ross, Adam Hollier (thanks for the note!), Betty DeRamus, Marion Hayden, Glen Cross, Robert Terrell and Georgette Jones.
At Your Finger Tips!
WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Nelson Mandela: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Let the music play! Steve Holsey can be reached at Svh517@aol. com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.
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